Common House (Indoor) Plants Toxic To Cats

Transcription

1 Common House (Indoor) Plants Toxic To Cats cat-world.com.au/common-household-plants-toxic-to-cats.html May 16, 2018 Levels of toxicity can range from mild gastrointestinal disturbances to severe and lifethreatening toxicity. Symptoms of poisoning can vary depending on the plant ingested, but common signs can include the following: Drooling Wobbly gait Vomiting Diarrhea Seizures Increased or decreased urination Loss of appetite Mouth ulcers Dilated pupils What are insoluble calcium oxalate crystals? Many plants have evolved to protect themselves from herbivores with needle-like raphides of calcium oxalate. When the plant is chewed, these needle-like crystals embed in the delicate tissues of the oral cavity leading to swelling, vesicles, difficulty swallowing, oral 1/27

2 pain, drooling, and in severe cases, swelling of the throat which can cause difficulty breathing. Rubber plant Scientific name: Ficus elastica Other names: Rubber fig, Indian rubber bush, Indian rubber tree, rubber fig, rubber bush Level of toxicity: Mild Toxic compound: Unknown Toxic parts: Sap Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite Peace lily 2/27

3 Scientific name: Spathiphyllum spp Level of toxicity: Mild Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: Mild gastrointestinal disturbances and skin irritation Causes: Oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing Dumbcane 3/27

4 Scientific name: Dieffenbachia spp Other names: Dumb cane, mother-in-laws tongue Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing Zanzibar (ZZ) plant 4/27

5 Image hollyjazzz362, Flickr Scientific name: Zamioculcas spp Other names: Zuzu plant, emerald palm, zanzibar gem Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing Cyclamen 5/27

6 Scientific name: Cyclamen spp Other names: Sowbread Toxic compound: Terpenoid saponins Toxic parts: All parts, the tubers are the most toxic Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances and abnormal heart rhythm Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy and abnormal heart rhythm String of pearls 6/27

7 Scientific name: Senecio rowleyanus Other names: Toxic compound: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Mild gastrointestinal disturbances and liver toxicity if large amounts ingested (uncommon) Symptoms: Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite Sago palm 7/27

8 Scientific name: Bowenia, Ceratozamia, Cycas, Dioon, Encephalartos, Macrozamia, Microcycas, Stangeria, and Zamia Other names: Sago palm, king sago, sago cycad, Japanese sago palm, fern palm, coontie palm, cardboard palms, queen sago Level of toxicity: Severe Toxic compound: Cycasin, methylazoxymethanol (MAM), B-N-methylamino-L-alanine (L- BMAA) and unidentified Toxic parts: All parts of the plant, seeds contain the highest amount of toxin Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances and liver failure Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, increased thirst, abdominal pain, abdominal fluid, jaundice (yellow gums), bleeding, bruising, dark tarry stools Swiss cheese plant 8/27

9 Scientific name: Monstera delicosa Other names: Window leaf plant, hurricane plant, Swiss cheese plant, cheese plant, ceriman, Mexican breadfruit Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing Jade plant 9/27

10 Scientific name: Crassula argentea Level of toxicity: Moderate Other names: Japanese rubber pant, baby jade, friendship tree, lucky plant Toxic compound: Unknown Toxic parts: All parts of he plant are toxic to cats Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances Symptoms: Vomiting, lethargy, incoordination Aloe Vera 10/27

11 Scientific name: Aloe Vera Other names: First aid plant Toxic compound: Saponins, anthraquinone glycosides Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy Anthurium: 11/27

12 Scientific name: Anthurium scherzeranum Common names: Pigtail plant, painter s pallet, laceleaf, oilcloth flower, flamingo lily and tail flower Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Mild gastrointestinal disturbances and skin irritation Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite Pothos 12/27

13 Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum Other names: Devil s ivy, golden pothos, taro vine, silver vine, ivy arum, hunter s robe Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite Elephant Ear 13/27

14 Scientific name: Colocasia spp Other names: Tarul, karkala ko ganu, elephant-ear, taro, cocoyam, dasheen, chembu, champadhumpa, shavige gadde, eddoe. Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing Cordyline 14/27

15 Image Michael Coghlan, Flickr Scientific name: Cordyline spp Other names: Ti-plant Toxic compound: Saponins Toxic parts: Leaves Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, dilated pupils Schefflera 15/27

16 Scientific name: Schefflera spp Other names: Umbrella plant, Australian ivy palm, star leaf, octopus tree Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite Asparagus fern 16/27

17 Scientific name: Asparagus aethiopicus Level of toxicity: Mild Other names: Sprenger s ssparagus, foxtail fern, emerald feather, emerald fern Toxic compound: Saponins Toxic parts: Berries Causes: Mild gastrointestinal disturbances and skin irritation Symptoms: Drooling, pawing at the mouth, oral swelling and pain, vomiting, loss of appetit Sansevieria 17/27

18 Scientific name: Sansevieria trifasciata Other names: Snake plant, mother-in-laws tongue Toxic compound: Saponins Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Mild gastrointestinal upset Symptoms: Nausea, drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea Chinese evergreen 18/27

19 Image courtesy Marissa Anderson, Flickr Scientific name: Aglaonema spp Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain and swelling, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite Corn plant (dracaena) 19/27

20 Scientific name: Dracaena spp Other names: Corn plant, cornstalk plant, dragon tree, ribbon plant, money tree Toxic compound: Saponins Toxic parts: Leaves Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, dilated pupils Philodendron 20/27

21 Scientific name: Philodendron spp. Other names: The philodendron comes in over 400 species, some common names include split-leaf philodendron, horsehead philodendron, cordatum, fiddle-leaf, panda plant, fruit salad plant, red emerald, red princess, saddle leaf Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain and swelling, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite Fiddle-leaf fig 21/27

22 Image Lisa Taliana, Flickr Scientific name: Ficus lyrata Level of toxicity: Mild Toxic compound: Unknown Toxic parts: Sap Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, loss of appetite Yucca plant 22/27

23 Scientific name: Yucca spp Level of toxicity: Mild Toxic compound: Saponins Toxic parts: Leaves Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, dilated pupils Pencil plant 23/27

24 Image courtesy Ralph Hockens, Fickr Scientific name: Euphorbia tirucalli Other names: Aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire or milk bush Level of toxicity: Mild Toxic compound: Irritant sap Toxic parts: Leaves Causes: Oral irritation Symptoms: Vomiting and oral irritation Amarylis 24/27

25 Scientific name: Amaryllis spp. or Hippeastrum spp. Other names: Belladonna lily, naked lady, resurrection lily, butterfly amaryllis, St Joseph lily Toxic compound: Lycorine Toxic parts: All parts, the bulb and leaves are the most toxic Causes: Gastrointestinal disturbances Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and tremors Calla lily 25/27

26 Scientific name: Zantedeschia aethiopica Other names: Arum lily, calla lily, florist s calla, pig lily, white arum, trumpet lily, white arum, garden calla Toxic compound: Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals Toxic parts: All parts, the roots are the most toxic Causes: Gastrointestinal and oral irritation Symptoms: Drooling, oral pain, difficulty swallowing, oral ulceration, vomiting, loss of appetite Bird of paradise 26/27

27 Scientific name:strelitzia reginae Other names: Crane flower, bird s tongue flower Toxic compound: Unknown Toxic parts: All parts, fruit and seeds contain the most toxins Causes: Gastrointestinal irritation Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, drooling, lethargy 27/27